Identify the Signs of Communication Disorders

Do you know the common sings of communication disorders? 

Early intervention is always best! Which is why ASHA partnered with Read Aloud 15 MINUTES to create age specific flyers on common signs of communication disorders. 

Here are few common signs of a communication disorder:

• Struggles to say sounds or words
• Repetition of words or parts of words
• Says words in wrong order
• Struggles with using words and understanding others

Early detection signs are commonly categorized for age specific development. Please use these resources to target your child's specific age range to determine any delays in reaching milestones. 

Signs of Speech & Language Disorders

Resource for Parents with Young Children

International Augmentative & Alternative Communication Awareness Month

October is the International AAC Awareness month!

PrAACticialAAC.org has many resources to help raise awareness of AAC and resources for those who have devices. 

This site also has a printable file flip chart called "Everyone Deserves a Voice" AAC Strategies for Success. 

Here is a blurb from the pamphlet: 

Students who use AAC need their communication systems within arms reach at all times. If you can see the student, you should also be able to see their AAC. Its never okay to turn it off or take it away. For students to learn to use AAC, they need to see adults & peers using it, too. Immerse them in an environment that is rich in AAC use throughout the day. Point to the AAC symbols as you speak. Use the AAC devise or app OR make a non-electoronic mock-up. 

We have a laminated version of this flip chart in our lobby at all times. 

However, during this month we will have multiple on the desk for you to take home and share with friends and family! 

Ear Infections in Children

Ear Infections are common in infants and children. In some cases, it can affect hearing and sometimes language development. 

         Two out of three children get at least one middle ear-infection (optitis media) by the age of 3. 1 out of 3 of these children will experience at least 3 infections. 50% of children have at least one ear infection by their first birthday. Unfortunately, the earlier the child gets their first one, the more susceptible they are to recurrent episodes. 

         Recurrent and middle ear fluid infections may experience mild to moderate hearing loss, which can affect the speech/hearing learning process. When fluid builds up in the ear, it can cause temporary hearing loss. 

         Children ages 2 to 4 have shorter, more horizontal eustachian tubes than adults that let bacteria and viruses find their way to the middle ear more easily. A common cold of flu can also lead to ear infections. 

Learn how to detect, treat, and prevent ear infections here!

7 Tips for Talking with Your Child

Most children who stutter benefit from taking time to speak at a rate that promotes fluency. Here are a few tips on how you can help your child's fluency when speaking to them. 

1. Reduce the Pace - Speak with your child in a unhurried way, pausing frequently.

2. Full Listening - Increase the times that you give your child your undivided attention.

3. Asking Questions - Try to resist asking one question after another. Sometimes it's best to just comment on what your child has said and wait. 

4. Turn Taking - Take turns listening and talking. Children find it much easier to speak when there are fewer interruptions.

5. Building Confidence  - Use descriptive praise to build confidence.

6. Special Times - Set aside a few minutes at a regular time each day to give your child your undivided attention

7. Normal Rules Apply

9 Tips for Communicating Better With People With Autism

Asha.org recently just put out a new infographic regarding tips to help improve communication for those with Autism. 

It's a must read for everyone! 

F.A.S.T

American Stroke Month

American Stroke Month started at the beginning of May. If you or someone you know is having a stroke, it is critical to get medical attention immediately! Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

Recognizing the symptoms when someone is having a stroke is vital in order to get the most immediate medical attention. Here are the most common symptoms of someone experiencing a stroke:

    1. Face Drooping —> Ask the person to smile. Is one side of the lower than the other?

    2. Arm Weakness —> Ask the person to lift both arms. Is one arm drifting downward?

    3. Speech Difficulty —> Is their speech slurred? Ask them to repeat a simple sentence

    4. Time to call 9-1-1 —> Time is important! Tell them “I think this is a stroke”

Follow this link to learn more in support of the American Stroke Month!

Summer Sensory Activities

There are many benefits of sensory activities. 

Sensory play is extremely beneficial to children with developmental delays and is often used in Sensory Integration Therapy. It has been proven that sensory integration therapy improves daily function in children with autism. 

It's not just children who have difficulty with sensory integration who benefit from sensory play; it's all children!

These activities help to stimulate your child's senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing. Sensory play also supports language development, cognitive growth, fine & gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction. 

Frozen Fractals Ice Art is an activity I recommend you try this summer. This activity allows your child to have creative freedom and is less structured than others. It is a messy activity, so make sure you take it outside on a sunny day! 

Erupting Ice Chalk is another outdoor activity I highly recommend! Just make sure when it is time for the vinegar portion of this activity that your child does not touch their eyes. 

Click here for more sensory activities to try this summer!

Decision Making Opportunities for those with a Communication Disorder

Making little choices is an important daily function. We make decisions about what to wear, what to eat, and what to do daily. Imagine if someone else was making these decisions for you. Would you be happy with their decision? Despite the insignificance of these decisions, not making these decisions yourself can be demoralizing and limiting. 

It’s important to recognize how this may affect those with a communication disorder. Helping them to express their needs and wants through giving options could dilute a potential frustrating situation for them. While they may not know how to respond to open ended questions, giving choices can help them give an appropriate answer while practicing recall. For example, “Would you like to eat a banana or an orange?” instead of "What would you like to eat?"

Giving them the option to make these decisions gives them a sense of independence and empowerment. This also demonstrates that you respect their desires and needs.

Benefits of giving choices:

• Allowing children to make decisions demonstrates the role communication plays in making requests in a concrete, immediate way. For example, “Would you like to tie your shoes or would you like me to do it for you?”

• Giving them choices creates opportunities to model and expand language.

• Offering choices helps to set expectations when giving directions. Phrasing a command as two choices can give you a quicker response while helping the child to feel independent and as if it was their idea. For Example, “Would you like to put your socks or shirt on first?” This questions has an underlying command saying “It’s time to get ready.”

Also, it can help to make the child feel in control of their environment. Giving two choices can help them to maintain predictability and reduce the uncertainty of their environment.

Fun Speech and Language Activities for the Car!

Are you planning a road trip during Spring Break?  Does is seem like you spend hours in the car every week driving kids to school, sports, appointments, etc.?  Here are some fun activities for the car with special speech and language twists:

• I Spy - A classic passing-the-time game.  Try mixing it up by spying categories of items, objects that start with a specific sound, or items based on function
• Speech & Language Twist: If your child is working on pronouncing certain sounds, try looking for items with that sound in the beginning, middle, or end of the word.

• Scavenger Hunt - This will take some prep work before your trip.  Put together a list of things you might see along the way and have your child check them off as you go.
• Speech & Language Twist: Don't forget to add adjectives and verbs to your scavenger hunt.  For example, have your kids look for something shiny, flat, or round and someone who is eating, someone who is singing, and something that is flying.  

• License Plate Search - How many different states can you find?  Keep track with a checklist or printed map.  Count how many of each state you can spot and see which one has the most. 
• Speech & Language Twist: Discuss the license plate design and talk about why that picture or saying was chosen.

• Find the Alphabet  - Look for the letters of the alphabet, in order from A-Z, on signs, billboards, cars, or anything passing by.  Take turns being in charge of different letters or see who can find one first.
• Speech & Language Twist: Don't just look for the letters, look for words that start will the letter.  You might have to get creative to cover all the letters.  Can you spot a Quacking duck or a Zipping car?

What's your favorite road trip game? Share it with us in the comments section below!

~Kimberly

St. Patrick's Day and a birthday!

To start I want to wish Paige, one of our speech therapists, a very happy birthday tomorrow!  We all enjoy working with her and hope that she has a wonderful day.

I really enjoy how many events and activities that go on in our area and especially around holidays.  St. Patrick's day is coming up and there is no shortage of fun events to attend.  New activities and events are a great way to foster new language and build vocabulary.  Below is a great article detailing family events for the holiday.

Go Green: Your Guide to the Best St. Patrick's Day Events

To continue in the holiday festivities I will also post a cute craft that I found on Pinterest.  It has the potential for a lot of language opportunities!  Please see the link below the image.

Rainbow Binoculars

You could target practicing specific sounds as you make the craft or target language building by playing "I Spy" with the binoculars.  Either way many children love to look and search for things!

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday.

-Cassee